I like to fly out of Las Vegas (KLAS) to a variety of cities in the west.

 

Yesterday, I chose a flight from KLAS to Ontario (KONT), below is the flight plan:

 

KLAS BOACH4.HEC ZIGGY4.26B.HEC KONT

 

To fly the ZIGGY4 Arrival correctly into KONT, you have to read the chart as there is a comment at fix DAWNA that reads as follows:

 

VERTICAL NAVIGATION

PLANNING INFORMATION

Expect clearance to cross at 12,000 ft.

 

The first time I flew this arrival (before looking at the chart), I would have flown the PMDG 737 into the face of the San Gabriel Mountains if I had followed the FMC.

 

So what I did was set up a speed/altitude restriction of 230/12000 at DAWNA to avoid crashing.

 

To meet the altitude restriction at SBNB (latest Navigraph build 1211) of 2900, I was then forced to extend the spoilers, drop the gear, and then set up a decent rate of 2,200 ft/min using Lvl Chng. It was the only way to get down to this altitude restriction in this short a distance.

 

Note – SBNB has been replaced by PETIS on the latest chart, so the Navigraph data base looks like it may be incorrect.

 

My question is, how do you best fly this Arrival. I would be interested in hearing from others?

 

BTW, it is a pretty short flight.

 

Bill Clark

Hi Bill,

 

Basically, the way you flew the arrival and approach is just about all you could have done. I might note that the altitude at Petis is an at or above altitude, 4200 feet. You don't have to be at 4200 feet when you pass it. It will definitely make the approach easier to manage though passing at 4200 feet.

 

Reducing airspeed, speedbrakes, early flaps and gear is a must in order to get down and stabilized on the GS prior to Fonta.

 

It can be done. Scrambling to get down is typical in the SoCal airspace.

I agree with what John said. SoCal is slam-dunk territory. I had one coming in to BUR today. They left us high, and we had to hustle to get down. When I go to ONT, it's from the NW, but we have the same issue. The last two times I've gone in, it's been a visual. They'll turn you loose somewhere around HITOP, and it's Gear Down from there.

 

If you feel like you're gonna be high, then get the gear out. Configure early and go for F40, if it's not gusty. That gives you a lot to work with. It's harder to fix problems on final with F30 than it is with F40.

 

Have fun!

Its an easy approach if done right. This is my hometown. Just follow the charts and don't be afraid to use speed brakes. If done with an -700 or smaller you don't really need to be bring gear down or flaps till final. SBNB is called PETIS, it's all the same thing. I have done this approach from SJC all the time., SIM and Real life.